The President indicated that there are
“developments” in the search for such high-profile fugitives as former Palawan
Governor Joel Reyes, his brother Coron Mayor Mario Reyes, and former Dinagat
Island Representative Ruben Ecleo, Jr.

The Reyes brothers are the prime suspects in the
killing of environment advocate Gerry Ortega in 2011. Ecleo, on the other had,
has been convicted of parricide for the death of his wife.

Palparan, wanted for the disappearance of two
University of the Philippines students in 2006, was arrested last August 12 in
Sta. Mesa, Manila, by agents of the National of Bureau of Investigation after
almost three years in hiding. PND (co)

President Aquino hopes to forward draft
Bangsamoro Basic Law to Congress soon

President Benigno S. Aquino III said a lot of
issues in the draft of the Bangsamoro Basic Law have been resolved that it
could soon be submitted to Congress.

The recent review of the draft law focused on
the details to make sure that they are in line with the specifications of the
law, the President said, adding that a meeting has been scheduled on Thursday
(August 28) to discuss the draft.

Presidential peace adviser Teresita Deles
recently said that both the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front
(MILF) peace panels have already agreed on significant issues, and that is why
they decided to forward the draft to the President.

The draft Bangsamoro Basic Law was submitted to
President Aquino on Wednesday last week.

Once the draft law is approved by Congress, a
plebiscite will be held and a transition authority will be created in
preparation for the conduct of an election in the Bangsamoro in 2016.

President Aquino has vowed to push for the
conduct of a fair and democratic poll in the region before he leaves office in
2016. PND (as)

President Benigno S. Aquino III said he would
push for stronger trade relations, as well as raise awareness on climate change
when he embarks on a multi-nation tour of Europe and the United States next
month.

In an exclusive interview with Bombo Radyo Philippines
on Wednesday, the President said he will visit Spain, France, Germany and
Belgium middle of September and will then proceed to the US.

While in Europe, he said he would express the
country's gratitude to European nations for lifting the restrictions imposed on
Philippine carriers, enabling the latter to penetrate the European market.

He also said he would thank leaders of the
European Union for their contributions to the Philippines in the aftermath of
Typhoon Yolanda, as well as to the peace efforts in Mindanao.

He will also hold discussions regarding Filipino
seafarers employed in European vessels under the European Maritime Safety
Agency.

The President further said he would lure
European investors to set up businesses in the Philippines.

The President noted that the Anti-Dynasty Bill
is already gaining traction in Congress, with House of Representatives Speaker
Feliciano Belmonte speaking in favor of the initiative.

He said he favors the abolition of political
dynasties in the country as dynasties control the economic, political and even
the judicial component of communities.

Political dynasties also hamper the conduct of a
fair and democratic election in a locality, he added.

One of those who filed the Anti-Dynasty Bill was
Congressman Edgar Erice of Caloocan, he said.

The 1987 Constitution calls for an enabling law
against political dynasties and the President has said he is ready to sign such
bill into law when it reaches his desk. PND (as)

Investment in people, social protection to
sustain economy, says President Aquino

The continued growth of the Philippine economy
will be sustained by the administration through intensified programs on people
development and social protection, President Benigno S. Aquino III has said.

In an exclusive interview with Bombo Radyo
Philippines on Wednesday, the President said he believes that the country’s
greatest resource is its people, thus the government has been investing heavily
on its citizens, especially in terms of education and health.

He said the focus on empowering the people is
manifested by the expansion of the conditional cash transfer program to enable
children of beneficiary families to finish high school to enhance their
employability.

He also mentioned the 300 percent increase in
the health budget to broaden the universal health coverage to include
catastrophic illnesses.

The Chief Executive said he has also directed
the Cabinet to work with a sense of urgency in clearing the administrative
bottlenecks that brought about a slowdown in government spending during the
first half of the year.

According to Secretary Arsenio Balisacan of the
National Economic Development Authority, government disbursements in June
increased by almost 45 percent and the administration is confident that the
government will catch up on its work program for the year. PND (as)

Claimant countries must work to reduce tension
in West Philippine Sea, says President Aquino

Claimant countries in the West Philippine Sea
(South China Sea) must have the "sense" to settle the dispute
peacefully and must work together to reduce tension in the contested territory,
President Benigno S. Aquino III has said.

The President said he has received reports about
two hydrographic ships deployed to Recto Bank to do mapping operations.

Recto Bank is 80 miles from Palawan and within
the 200-mile exclusive economic zone of the country, he noted, adding that he
wonders what the two ships were mapping inside Philippine territory.

The Philippines is concentrating on two
initiatives to resolve the issue --- through arbitration under the United
Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS), and by pushing for a
binding Code of Conduct in the South China Sea.

The country has filed an arbitration case to
compel China to clarify its claims in the South China Sea. China however has refused
to participate in the arbitration.

The Philippines wants to craft a Code of Conduct
in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) that, once approved, will
ask China to also adopt the binding code.

The ASEAN tried to craft a Code of Conduct in
2002 but only produced the Declaration of the Conduct of Parties in the South
China Sea. The declaration is non-binding.

Aside from China and the Philippines, Vietnam,
Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan are laying claim to the South China Sea. PND (as)